Flatwork feeding apparatus

ABSTRACT

Friction belt means movable from a feeding station is combined with nip roller means mounted for movement between an initial position spaced appreciably above the friction belt means and a lowered position where the nip roller means presses the front end portion of a flatwork piece placed upon the friction belt means. A pair of initially stationary opposite laterally outwardly movable flatwork piece smoothing means are positioned immediately behind the inlet end of the friction belt means. Flatwork piece position sensing means is located behind the friction belt means at the feeding station so as to sense the presence of a dropped portion of a flatwork piece whose front end is positioned on the friction belt means. When the flatwork piece is dropped by the persons who initially placed the front end portion of the flatwork piece upon the friction belt means, the nip roller means is automatically lowered against the top of the flatwork piece on the friction belt means and the latterally outwardly movable flatwork piece smoothing means is operated.

Unite States Behn tent [1 1 FLATWORK FEEDING APPARATUS [75] Inventor: Sheldon P. Behn, Highland Park,

Ill.

[73] Assignee: Super Laundry Machinery Company, Inc, Chicago, Ill.

[22] Filed: Apr. 19,1972

21 Appl. No.: 245,485

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,417,718 12/1968 Andersson 112/203 3,136,081 6/1964 Fredholm.... 38/2 X 3,408,756 11/1968 Mazzolla 38/2 X 3,414,997 12/1968 Henny 38/193 3,552,743 1/1971 Baboz 38/7 X 3,080,836 3/1963 Clemens et al. 112/203 X 2,177,460 10/1939 Renz 271/76 3,198,516 8/1965 Withorn et al. 271/45 2,585,834 2/1952 Pocock 38/143 3,228,127 1/1966 Roiland 38/143 3,464,131 9/1969 McCabe 38/143 3,504,452 4/1970 Shea 38/143 3,568,342 3/1971 Betsch 38/143 3,553,863 1/1971 Sjostrom 38/143 Nov. 20, 1973 [5 7 ABSTRACT Friction belt means movable from a feeding station is combined with nip roller means mounted for movement between an initial position spaced appreciably above the friction belt means and a lowered position where the nip roller means presses the front end portion of a flatwork piece placed upon the friction belt means. A pair of initially stationary opposite laterally outwardly movable flatwork piece smoothing means are positioned immediately behind the inlet end of the friction belt means. Flatwork piece position sensing means is located behind the friction belt means at the feeding station so as to sense the presence of a dropped portion of a flatwork piece whose front end is positioned on the friction belt means. When the flatwork piece is dropped by the persons who initially placed the front end portion of the flatwork piece upon the friction belt means, the nip roller means is automatically lowered against the top of the flatwork piece on the friction belt means and the latterally outwardly movable flatwork piece smoothing means is operated.

12 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEnunvzo 1915 I $772,808

SHEET 30F 4 FLATWORK FEEDING APPARATUS The present invention relates to flatwork (e.g., sheets, towels, table cloths, etc.) feeding and handling machines, such as ironers and folding machines used to iron and/or fold flatwork laundry or newly manufactured flatwork.

In flatwork ironing or folding machines, there is generally provided a feeding station at which a flatwork piece, like a sheet or tablecloth, is manually applied usually by two persons stationed on opposite sides of the ironing or folding machine involved and who grasp the opposite front corners of the flatwork piece with one hand while raising a portion thereof behind the same with the other hand and then feed the front end portion of the flatwork piece between moving friction belt means and a nip roller positioned closely adjacent the friction belt means. There is also generally provided at the feeding station an apron with a suction aperture upon which the sheet is dropped after it is positioned between the nip roller means and the friction belt means, and laterally outwardly movable flatwork piece smoothing means between the apron and friction belt means which receives the bottom of a dropped flatwork piece and laterally stretches and smoothes the same before it passes between the nip roller means and the friction belt means. The suction applied to the flatwork piece places a restraining force thereon which effects the longitudinal stretching or smoothing thereof, as the friction belt means pulls the flatwork piece over the apron.

While no serious harm generally befalls a person who inadvertently lets his fingers pass between the nip roller means and the friction belt means, or who may be brushed by the laterally outwardly moving flatwork piece smoothing means (which may be a moving belt, spiral roller or the like), nevertheless, when a person makes such an inadvertent contact with these portions of the machine some fear, shock and discomfort generally results. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improvement in the design of the nio roller means and/or the laterally outwardly movable flatwork piece smoothing means, or means which operate the same, which eliminates or minimizes the aforesaid hazards to the person or persons feeding the flatwork piece to the friction belt means at the feeding station.

In accordance with one of the features of the present invention, the aforementioned nip roller means is mounted for movement between an initial raised portion where it is substantially spaced from the feeding belt means, to enable the person or persons readily and safely to position the front end portion of the flatwork piece upon the friction belt means at a point below the raised nip roller means, and, a lowered position where the nip roller means presses the flatwork piece against the friction belt means. Flatwork piece position responsive means is provided responsive to the dropping of a portion of the flatwork piece behind the front end portion placed upon the friction belt means by effecting the automatic lowering of the nip roller means. Since the person or persons feeding the flatwork piece to the feeding station do not drop the flatwork piece until the front end portion thereof has already been placed on the friction belt means and their hands withdrawn therefrom, it is apparent that with the improvement just described it is practically impossible for the persons involved to catch their fingers between the nip roller means nad the friction belt means.

In accordance with another feature of the present invention, the aforementioned laterally outwardly movable flatwork piece smoothing means is initially in a stationary condition and is operated only when the flatwork piece position responsive means responds to the dropping of the flatwork piece by initiating operation of the laterally outwardly movable flatwork piece smoothing means. Here again, there is little danger that the persons involved will be touched by the moving laterally outwardly movable flatwork piece smoothing means, since the same will not be operated until such persons have released the flatwork piece involved and have withdrawn slightly from the vicinity thereof.

The flatwork piece positioning sensing means is most advantageously a depressible member (or other suitable sensing means) positioned at or adjacent to the aforesaid apron, so that the release of the flatwork piece involved will cause it to drop thereupon to effect the one or more control operations above described.

The above and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become more apparent upon making reference to the specification to follow, the claims and the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the inlet end of a flatwork piece ironing or folding machine including the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view through FIG. 1, taken along section line 2-2 therein;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through FIG. 1, taken along section line 3-3 therein;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view of the machine of FIGS. 1-3 as seen at a point just behind the nip roller shown in FIG. 1, after a flatwork piece has been fed to the machine;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional view through the machine shown in FIG. 4, taken along section line 5-5 therein; and

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram including the electric control elements which operate the controlled portions of the machine shown in FIGS. 1-5 in accordance with the invention.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 1, the inlet end of a flatwork piece handling machine, such as an ironing or folding machine, is shown. At the terminus of this inlet end is a flatwork piece feeding station 112 to which flatwork pieces like sheets and table cloths to be ironed or folded are fed one at a time, preferably by two persons standing respectively on opposite sides of the feeding station. Each person grasps the front end portion of a flatwork piece with one hand and another portion of the flatwork piece with the other hand, holding the latter portion in a raised position as indicated by the dashed line position of a flatwork piece 13 in FIG. 5. At the feeding station 12 there is located the feeding end of a friction belt conveyor generally indicated by reference numeral M. The conveyor, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, comprises individual longitudinally extending, parallel narrow friction belts Ma passing around the grooved portions of an idler roller 15, journalled for rotation between side frame members lfi-l8 of the flatwork piece handling machine involved. The upper sections of the narrow friction belts 14a are driven in the direction shown by the arrows 117 by drive roller means (not shown). The

narrow friction belts 14a, which may be made of a woven fabric material or the like, as illustrated extend in a generally horizontal direction away from the feeding station 12. The front end portion of the flatwork is initially positioned upon the narrow friction belts 14a beneath a nip roller assembly 20 initially in a raised position far removed from the narrow friction belts 14a, so that the persons involved have no fear of pinching their fingers between the nip roller assembly and the narrow friction belts.

The nip roller assembly may take a variety of forms but, as illustrated, includes a central core 20a made of metal or the like which is suitably journalled in bearings 22-22 carried on the upper ends of vertical arms or rods 24-24 supported for suitable vertical movement by means such as air cylinders 26-26. The nip roller assembly core 20a is most advantageously surrounded by a suitable covering of a soft friction material 20b which, when brought into downward pressing contact with the front end portion of the flatwork piece resting upon the narrow friction belts 14a, causes the friction belts to impart longitudinal movement to the flatwork piece due to the resulting friction developed between the flatwork piece and the advancing narrow friction belts 14a. The manner in which the downward movement of the nip roller assembly is effected will be later described.

A pair of laterally outwardly movable flatwork piece smoothing means 28-28 are provided which, in accordance with the broad aspects of the invention, may take a variety of forms. As illustrated, these means include a pair or relatively wide friction belts 28a-28a located preferably at about the same elevation as or slightly lower than the elevation of the upper section of the adjacent narrow friction belts 14a immediately in front of the same. The laterally outwardly movable belts 2811-2- 8a' extend down and around the opposite sides of pairs of inner and outer sheaves 30-32 and 30'-32 respectively and then around driven sheaves like driven sheave 34 shown in FIG. 2. Each of these sheaves is secured to a rotatably mounted shaft like shaft 36 connected to a pulley wheel like pulley wheel 38 receiving a belt like belt 40 driven by a drive pulley like pulley 42 by a motor 44 or 44' (see FIG. 1 for motor 44'). Initially, the laterally outwardly movable belts 28a-28a are stationary either due to the de-energization of motors 44 and 44') or by the de-coupling of the drive sheaves through suitable clutch or belt tension varying mechanism (not shown).

The laterally outwardly movable belts 28a-28a are respectively centered on the two contiguous halves of the inlet end of the flatwork piece handling machine involved so that, when a flatwork piece like a sheet is centered upon the inlet end of the machine and contacts the laterally outwardly movable belts 28a-28a' moving in opposite directions, the flatwork piece will be laterally stretched and smoothed thereby before being pulled upon the narrow friction belts 14a.

Extending downwardly and outwardly from the outer side of the laterally outwardly movable belts 28a-28a' is an apron 50 provided with suction apertures 52. The apron 50 defines one wall of an air suction compartment 54 whose other margins are defined by horizontal and vertical walls 55 and 57 closing the bottom and rear margins of the air suction compartment 54. The ends of the air suction compartment 54 may be closed by suitable side plates or other walls like side plates 59 shown in FIG. 1. The air suction compartment 54 is connected by a flexible conduit 56 to the inlet end of a pump 58 which creates a flow of air or suction at the apertures 52 of the apron 50. Accordingly, when the flatwork piece 13 is dropped upon the inlet side of the machine, suction appearing at the apertures 52 will create a restraining force to the movement of the flatwork piece, thereby causing a longitudinal stretching and smoothing of the flatwork piece as it is pulled over the apron 50 by the longitudinally moving narrow friction belts 140.

In accordance with the present invention, flatwork piece position responsive means are provided which respond to the dropping of a flatwork piece upon the inlet end of the flatwork piece handling machine to effect the lowering of the nip roller assembly 20 upon the front end portion of a flatwork piece positioned on the narrow friction belts 14a below the nip roller assembly and also, most advantageously, to initiate the outward movement of the laterally outwardly movable belts 28a-28a or other similar means. As illustrated this flatwork piece position responsive means may include a flatwork piece sensing means in the form of a depressible control arm 60a projecting upwardly through a slot 62 in a plate 64 forming a continuation of the apron 50. The weight of the flatwork piece dropping upon the control arm 60a will operate suitable control means 60b (FIG. 5) which will effect the aforesaid downward movement of the nip roller assembly 20, and the outward movement of the belts 28a-28a in an exemplary manner to be described.

It can thus be seen that the persons who feed the flatwork piece into the inlet end 10 of the flatwork piece handling machine involved need have little or no concern about being harmed in any way by the nip roller assembly 20 or the laterally outwardly movable belt 28a-28a' if after these persons initially place the front end portion of the flatwork piece upon the narrow friction belts 14a with one hand they drop the flatwork piece held in a raised position over the apron 50 with the other hand while withdrawing themselves slightly from the vicinity of the machine. As the released flatwork piece drops upon and depresses the control arm 60a (or other suitable flatwork piece sensing means), the nip roller assembly 20 automatically drops into position upon the front end portion of the flatwork piece and movement of the laterally outwardly movable belts 28a-28a is initiated. When the trailing edge of the flatwork piece passes over the control arm 60a, then or after a short delay, the nip roller assembly 20 will return to its raised position and the movement of the laterally outwardly movable belts 28a-28a will cease.

While the flatwork piece sensing means could be a photocell system or other position sensing means instead of a depressible control member, the latter has found to be the most simple and reliable sensing means. Also while the particular control means operated by the control arm 60a or other flatwork piece sensing means may take a number of forms, as illustrated in FIG. 6 it is an electrical switch having normally open controls 61-63. The switch 60b is connected between an energized power line 72 and one side of a pair of parallel connected electrical control elements 78-78 whose opposite ends are connected to another energized power line 72. The electrical control elements 78-78 may be the windings of the aforementioned m0- tors 44-44, clutch solenoids or the like to control the feeding'of motive power from the motors 44-44 to the laterally outwardly movable belts 28a-28a'. Also connected between the switch 60b and the power line 72' is an electrical control element 26a which may be a solenoid controlling the flow of air to the aforementioned air cylinders 26-26. It is apparent that when the trailing end of the flatwork piece involved leaves contact with the control arm 60a, the various control elements 26a and 78-78 will become de-energized. The aforementioned motor 58 may serve both as a suction producing means and an air pressure producing means producing pressure in a pressure line 80 extending to a solenoid controlled valve 82, of which the aforementioned solenoid 26a forms a part. When the solenoid 26a is de-energized, the pressure extends through lines 84-84 to the bottom ends of the air cyclinders 26-26 to effect the upward movement of the rods 24-24 extending therefrom. When the solenoid 26a is energized, pressure is discontinued from the lines 84-84 and established in the lines 86-86 extending to the upper ends of the air cylinders 26-26. This will, of course, effect the dropping of the rods 24-24 to bring the nip roller assembly into its lower position described above.

It should be apparent that the present invention provides an exceedingly practical, simple and reliable means for reducing any danger or harm to the persons feeding flatwork pieces to the inlet end of a flatwork piece handling machine.

It should be understood that numerous modifications may be made in the most preferred form of the invention without deviating from the broader aspects thereof.

1 claim:

1. In combination with a flatwork feeding apparatus including friction belt means movable between a feeding station at which the front end portion of a flatwork piece is to be manually applied to the top of the friction belt means, and a discharge station, the improvement comprising: nip roller means mounted above said friction belt means at said feeding station for movement between an initial raised position where it is substantially spaced from said friction belt means to enable a person or persons readily and safely to position the front end portion of a flatwork piece upon said friction belt means at a point below the raised nip roller means and a lowered position where the nip roller means presses the flatwork piece against said friction belt means which then imparts movement to the flatwork piece, and flatwork piece position responsive means responsive to the dropping of the portion of the flatwork piece behind said front end portion placed upon said friction belt means by effecting the lowering of said nip roller means upon the front end portion of said flatwork piece placed upon said friction belt means.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said flatwork piece position responsive means includes sensing means located to receive on top thereof the dropped portion of said flatwork piece, and control means responsive to the movement dropping of said flatwork piece on said sensing means for effecting the lowering of said nip roller means upon said front portion of said flatwork piece.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said sensing means is a depressible control means responsive to the presence and release of pressure thereon for respectively operating said control means to effect the lowering and raising of said nip roller means.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein there is an apron behind said friction belt means at said feed station upon which apron the flatwork piece is dropped in a stretched-out condition by the person or persons feeding the same after the front end portion thereof is placed upon the friction belt means, and said flatwork piece position responsive means includes means responsive to the dropping of the flatwork piece upon said apron for effecting the lowering of said nip roller means.

5. The combination of claim 11 wherein there is provided suction means behind the inlet end of said friction belt means for applying a force on the flatwork dropped thereon to aid in stretching and smoothing the flatwork where said friction belt means pulls the same forwardly.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said flatwork piece position responsive means includes sensing means located behind the inlet end of said friction belt means to receive on top thereof the dropped portion of said flatwork piece, and control means responsive to the presence of a portion of the flatwork piece on said sensing means for effecting and maintaining the lowering of said nip roller means upon said front portion of said flatwork piece only so long as such presence continues.

7. In combination with a flatwork feeding apparatus including driven flatwork piece conveyor means movable between an inlet end thereof at a feeding station, at which the front end portion of a flatwork piece is to be manually applied to the top of the conveyor means, and a discharge station, the improvement comprising: a pair of initially stationary laterally outwardly movable flatwork piece smoothing means positioned immediately behind the inlet end of said conveyor means and being at an elevation and encompassing a lateral extent to receive the dropped portion of the flatwork piece behind said front end portion thereof to impart a laterally outward smoothing force thereto, and flatwork piece position responsive means for controlling the movement of said opposite laterally outwardly movable flatwork piece smoothing means and responsive to the dropping of a portion of the flatwork piece behind said front end portion thereof by initiating movement of said opposite laterally outwardly movable flatwork piece smoothing means.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein there is an apron behind and below said friction belt at said feeding station means upon which apron the flatwork piece is dropped in a stretched out condition by the person or persons feeding the same after the front end portion thereof is placed upon the conveyor means, and said flatwork piece position responsive means includes means responsive to the dropping of the flatwork piece upon said apron for effecting the operation of said opposite laterally outwardly movable flatwork piece smoothing means.

9. The combination of claim 7 wherein said conveyor means is a friction belt means said flatwork handling machine include an initially raised nip roller means mounted above said friction belt means at said feeding station for movement between its raised position where it is substantially spaced from said friction belt means to enable a person or persons readily and safely to position the front end portion of the flatwork piece upon said friction belt means at a point below the raised nip roller means and a lowered position where the nip roller means presses the flatwork against said friction belt means which then imparts movement to the flatwork piece, and said flatwork piece position responsive means is also responsive to the dropping of the portion of the flatwork piece behind said front end portion placed upon said friction belt means by effecting the lowering of said nip roller means upon the front end portion of said flatwork piece placed upon said friction belt means.

10. The combination of claim 7 wherein said flatwork piece position responsive means includes sensing means located behind the inlet end of said conveyor means to receive on top thereof the dropped portion of said flatwork piece, said control means responsive to the presence of a portion of the flatwork piece on said sensing means for effecting the continued movement of said opposite laterally outwardly movable flatwork piece smoothing means only so long as such presence continues.

1 l. The combination of claim 7 wherein said flatwork piece position responsive means includes sensing means located behind the inlet end of said conveyor means to receive on top thereof the dropped portion of said flatwork piece, and control means responsive to the dropping of the flatwork piece on said sensing means for effecting the movement of said opposite laterally outwardly movable flatwork piece smoothing means.

12. The combination of claim 11 wherein said flatwork piece sensing means is a depressible control means responsive to the presence and release of pressure thereon by respectively operating said control means to effect the movement and stoppage of said opposite laterally outwardly movable flatwork piece smoothing means. 

1. In combination with a flatwork feeding apparatus including friction belt means movable between a feeding station at which the front end portion of a flatwork piece is to be manually applied to the top of the friction belt means, and a discharge station, the improvement comprising: nip roller means mounted above said friction belt means at said feeding station for movement between an initial raised position where it is substantially spaced from said friction belt means to enable a person or persons readily and safely to position the front end portion of a flatwork piece upon said friction belt means at a point below the raised nip roller means and a lowered position where the nip roller means presses the flatwork piece against said friction belt means which then imparts movement to the flatwork piece, and flatwork piece position responsive means responsive to the dropping of the portion of the flatwork piece behind said front end portion placed upon said friction belt means by effecting the lowering of said nip roller means upon the front end portion of said flatwork piece placed upon said friction belt means.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said flatwork piece position responsive means includes sensing means located to receive on top thereof the dropped portion of said flatwork piece, and control means responsive to the movement dropping of said flatwork piece on said sensing means for effecting the lowering of said nip roller means upon said front portion of said flatwork piece.
 3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said sensing means is a depressible control means responsive to the presence and release of pressure thereon for respectively operating said control means to effect the lowering and raising of said nip roller means.
 4. The combination of claim 1 wherein there is an apron behind said friction belt means at said feed station upon which apron the flatwork piece is dropped in a stretched-out condition by the person or pErsons feeding the same after the front end portion thereof is placed upon the friction belt means, and said flatwork piece position responsive means includes means responsive to the dropping of the flatwork piece upon said apron for effecting the lowering of said nip roller means.
 5. The combination of claim 1 wherein there is provided suction means behind the inlet end of said friction belt means for applying a force on the flatwork dropped thereon to aid in stretching and smoothing the flatwork where said friction belt means pulls the same forwardly.
 6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said flatwork piece position responsive means includes sensing means located behind the inlet end of said friction belt means to receive on top thereof the dropped portion of said flatwork piece, and control means responsive to the presence of a portion of the flatwork piece on said sensing means for effecting and maintaining the lowering of said nip roller means upon said front portion of said flatwork piece only so long as such presence continues.
 7. In combination with a flatwork feeding apparatus including driven flatwork piece conveyor means movable between an inlet end thereof at a feeding station, at which the front end portion of a flatwork piece is to be manually applied to the top of the conveyor means, and a discharge station, the improvement comprising: a pair of initially stationary laterally outwardly movable flatwork piece smoothing means positioned immediately behind the inlet end of said conveyor means and being at an elevation and encompassing a lateral extent to receive the dropped portion of the flatwork piece behind said front end portion thereof to impart a laterally outward smoothing force thereto, and flatwork piece position responsive means for controlling the movement of said opposite laterally outwardly movable flatwork piece smoothing means and responsive to the dropping of a portion of the flatwork piece behind said front end portion thereof by initiating movement of said opposite laterally outwardly movable flatwork piece smoothing means.
 8. The combination of claim 7 wherein there is an apron behind and below said friction belt at said feeding station means upon which apron the flatwork piece is dropped in a stretched out condition by the person or persons feeding the same after the front end portion thereof is placed upon the conveyor means, and said flatwork piece position responsive means includes means responsive to the dropping of the flatwork piece upon said apron for effecting the operation of said opposite laterally outwardly movable flatwork piece smoothing means.
 9. The combination of claim 7 wherein said conveyor means is a friction belt means said flatwork handling machine include an initially raised nip roller means mounted above said friction belt means at said feeding station for movement between its raised position where it is substantially spaced from said friction belt means to enable a person or persons readily and safely to position the front end portion of the flatwork piece upon said friction belt means at a point below the raised nip roller means and a lowered position where the nip roller means presses the flatwork against said friction belt means which then imparts movement to the flatwork piece, and said flatwork piece position responsive means is also responsive to the dropping of the portion of the flatwork piece behind said front end portion placed upon said friction belt means by effecting the lowering of said nip roller means upon the front end portion of said flatwork piece placed upon said friction belt means.
 10. The combination of claim 7 wherein said flatwork piece position responsive means includes sensing means located behind the inlet end of said conveyor means to receive on top thereof the dropped portion of said flatwork piece, said control means responsive to the presence of a portion of the flatwork piece on said sensing means for effecting the continued movement of said opposite lateRally outwardly movable flatwork piece smoothing means only so long as such presence continues.
 11. The combination of claim 7 wherein said flatwork piece position responsive means includes sensing means located behind the inlet end of said conveyor means to receive on top thereof the dropped portion of said flatwork piece, and control means responsive to the dropping of the flatwork piece on said sensing means for effecting the movement of said opposite laterally outwardly movable flatwork piece smoothing means.
 12. The combination of claim 11 wherein said flatwork piece sensing means is a depressible control means responsive to the presence and release of pressure thereon by respectively operating said control means to effect the movement and stoppage of said opposite laterally outwardly movable flatwork piece smoothing means. 